The Courier understands a pledge of more than $200,000 was made to the league to join the RAC in December last year.

AFL Victoria chief executive Steven Reaper confirmed an offer, in conjunction with AFL Goldfields, was made to the CHFL.

Reaper said the league wanted to continue managing its own administration for the foreseeable future.

“A support package was put forward from AFL Victoria that would have ultimately meant that the league would’ve saved the current administration costs they incur,” he said.

Reaper said while it was not AFL Victoria’s intention to force any league to join a RAC, the region commissions were in place to make decisions based in the best interests of football in their area.

“AFL Victoria holds the view to achieve the best possible outcomes for football in any region, a collaborative effort is required from both a governance and administrative perspective,” he said.

“Regional Administration Centres or hubs hold the key to such success from an administrative perspective. This was clearly identified during the 2011 Review into Country Football. 

“As such, we would ultimately like to see all leagues across the state join a RAC for the benefit of their member clubs.”

CHFL president Eddy Comelli said the league wanted to continue with its own administration.

“The reason being, we are the biggest league in country Victoria and we have one paid employee – which is obviously Diane Ryan – and our league is run very, very well,” he said.

“For many, many years, the Central Highlands Football League has been a volunteer-based organisation, with a paid secretary, and we run our league very well according to our member clubs.”

Comelli said member clubs would be up for greater expenses should the CHFL join the Goldfields RAC.

He said the decision to reject the offer to join the RAC was not made by the 18 member clubs.

“It’s the board’s role to appoint their administrator and the board saw fit to appoint Diane Ryan as our secretary,” he said.

The Goldfields RAC looks after the Ballarat, Maryborough-Castlemaine District and Riddell District football and netball leagues, the Ballarat Football Umpires Association and the ACU Sovereigns, which compete in the Victorian Netball League. 

It has two dedicated netball resources, three football development managers and offices in Ballarat and Sunbury.

AFL Goldfields regional general manager Rod Ward said the CHFL would be “significantly financially advantaged” by joining the local RAC. “The proposal put forward ... over the next eight years was basically to maintain their current administration fees/charges, which would have been offset by subsidies provided,” he said.

Ward said Ryan was to be offered a Goldfields RAC position under the proposal.

tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au